Improvement in reversible latches



- UNITED STATES PHILIP MATHES, OF EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT- IN REVERSIBLE LATCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N o. 168,036, dated September 21, 1875; application tiled August 26, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP MATHEs, of Easton, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reversible Latch-Locks, of which the following is a full. clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings making a part ot' this `specication, in which- Figure l is a face view of the lock with the cover removed. Fig. 2 is the same view with the parts in a new position. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 1 2 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4is a perspective view of parts of my invention.

My invention relates to certain improvements in reversible latches for locks; and the object of my invention is to produce a cheap and simple door-lock with a reversible latch, so as to be easily adapted to use on right or left hand doors.

My invention consists in a combination of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In order that those skilled in the art may make and use my invention7 I will proceed' to describe the exact manner in which I have carried it out.

In the said drawings, A is the bolt and B the tumbler of the lock arranged to -be operated by the key in the usual manner, and D y is theinclined head ot' the latch, the stein of which consists of a flat horizontal plate, c, adapted at its inner end to a pin, b, on the lower end of the lever E, which is acted on at the upper end by a spring', d, as usual, and is arranged to be operated by the fingers e e of the hub F of the knob-spindle in the ordinary manner. H isa sliding' plate provided with a projection, f, which extends slightly above the face ot' the lock-plate, so as to be grasped by the fingers in order to move said plate to and fro for a purpose explained hereafter.

An opening, g, contracted at the bottom is formed in the plate H, and into this opening projects a stud, z', on the tumbler B, while on the upper edge ot' the plate is formed a lug,

m, which, when said plate is in the position` lug m is removed from under the end of the.

stem o, which can then be depressed until it is clear of the pin b, when it is free to be Withdrawn endwise t'rom the lock, so that the position of thelatch D can be changed to suit' either a right-handed or a left-handed door.

When the bolt A, however, is in either ot' its extreme positions the stud 1I of the tumbler B projects into the contracted lower portion ofthe recess g ot' the plate H, so that all movement ofthe same, and consequently of the latch-stem a, is prevented; but when the bolt has been moved by the key to a position about half-way, or thereabout, between its extreme positions, the stud i ot' the tulnbleris'bronght into line with the enlarged upper portion of the recess g, and the plate H can be moved to and fro at pleasure.

It will be observed more especially in Fig. 4, that the stem a is flat, and secured to the head D of the latch in a horizontal position,

the object of this arrangement being to prej sent the resisting power ot' the stem in the most effective manner aga-mst any strani upon the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The plate H, provided with the projection f, recess g, and lug m, in combination with the lever E b, the latch D, having the stem a, and

vthe tumbler B, provided with the stud i, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

PHILIP MATHES. Witnesses:

JAMES W. HAY, R. H. SIEGFRIED. 

